Outside the outermost star system.
Without any warning, a rift opened in space. Pale golden light poured out of it, swiftly spreading to either side.
Once the rift stabilized, the Heavenly Blade slowly emerged. Keisha stood before the observation window on the bridge, her long golden hair falling behind her shoulders, her gaze resting on the star system ahead.
"Zhui, keep the legion outside the star system. Bring two squads in with me. Everyone else, stand by."
"Yes."
Keisha left the Heavenly Blade, her silver wings drawing a streak of cold light through deep space.
Zhui followed with ten Guard-Class Angels. The silver points of light formed two columns outside the system's boundary, leaving the Heavenly Blade's Dark Plane coverage as they flew toward the star system.
The instant she crossed the boundary, Keisha sensed that she had lost her connection to the Knowledge Treasury. There was no Dark Plane here at all-it was neither concealed nor being interfered with-but she did not stop.
Behind her, Zhui and the ten Guard-Class Angels felt the same change the moment they crossed the boundary.
Soon, they all noticed the black hole at the center of the system. More importantly, there was a planet beside it.
A planet that should not have supported life, yet dozens of warships were stationed outside it. The other side seemed to have spotted them as well and was heading toward them.
The warship formation stopped roughly half an astronomical unit away from them. Launch racks on both sides of the hulls slowly rose, aiming at Keisha and the angel squads behind her.
There was no communication request, nor any transmission of identification-friend-or-foe signals.
The main gun at the bow of the first warship flashed. A purple beam shot from its muzzle, blasting straight toward Keisha.
Keisha twisted